We independently select all products and services. If you click through links we provide, we may earn a commission. Learn more Forbes Vetted The Best Mattresses For Heavy People That Won’t Sag Or Buckle Lindsay Boyers Forbes Staff Forbes Vetted Contributor Group Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Following May 27, 2023, 12:27pm EDT | Share to
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Twitter Share to Linkedin Many of the top-rated products below are discounted for Memorial Day weekend. Check out our list of the best Memorial Day sales for more savings opportunities. The best mattresses for heavy people have a higher weight capacity than your average mattress. This helps keep plus-size sleepers comfortable throughout the night—and over the years. Standard mattresses are made to support around 230 to 250 pounds per side, but if you or your partner are heavier, you may notice premature dipping or sagging. The end result? Restless nights and groggy mornings, and maybe even frustration if your mattress isn’t lasting as long as it could. Fortunately, some of the biggest mattress brands today, including Helix and Saatva , have developed models specifically for plus-sized sleepers. There are also companies like Big Fig and Titan that specialize in sturdier beds. The best mattresses for heavy people help keep plus-size sleepers comfortable throughout the ... [+] night—and over the years. Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailer Heavier sleepers typically face five major considerations when it comes to sleep and mattresses—mattress softening and breakdown, mattress sagging, poor or improper support, lack of edge support and heat retention. Mattresses that are designed for plus-size and big-and-tall sleepers generally address these issues. They’re often thicker and usually made with sturdier materials (such as higher gauge coils). In most cases, they’re also made with cooling in mind—meaning they’re designed to dissipate heat, or contain materials that help keep you comfy temperature-wise while you snooze. Not sure what you’re looking for? Scroll to the bottom of this story for some expert shopping tips or refer to our Best Mattresses Of 2023 Guide for step-by-step guidance. Best Mattress For Heavy People Overall: Helix Plus ($1,124, Was $1,498) Best Mattress For Heavy Side Sleepers: DreamCloud Premier ($1,099, Was $1,599) Best Firm Mattress For Heavy People: Titan Firm Hybrid ($874, Was $1,249) Best Value Mattress For Heavy People: Big Fig ($1,399, Was $1,799) Best Mattress For Heavy People With Back Pain: Saatva HD ($2,745, Was $3,195) Best Organic Mattress For Heavy People: Avocado Luxury Organic ($3,509, Was $3,899) Best Mattress For Heavy People Overall A Model Packed With High-Density Foam To Prevent Sagging MOST POPULAR Helix Sleep Helix Plus Mattress (Queen) Buy From Helix Type: Hybrid | Thickness: 13 inches | Weight limit: 500 pounds per side (1,000 pounds total) | Firmness: 7 to 8 out of 10 (firm) | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 15-year limited The Helix Plus is a hybrid mattress that combines wrapped coils with several layers of foam. Each foam layer has a different density, strategically chosen to contour your body and give you some serious pressure relief. The company claims the Helix Plus is designed with high-density, four-pound foam to provide maximum support so your mattress doesn’t dip or sag, as well as an extra layer of comfort. In between the foam layers sit hundreds of tall coils that individually wrapped are designed to support heavier weight. These coils, which are reinforced around the perimeter of the mattress, cradle your body and provide extra edge support so the side doesn’t compress if you roll away from the center. To top it off, the mattress is wrapped in a breathable Tencel cover that promotes air flow, so you stay cool and comfortable while you sleep. What the reviews say: “This bed has done a great
Job in alleviating back pain and hip pressure points,” one customer says. “Definitely recommend it for side and back sleepers on the heavy set side. I have used this bed for 45 days and my lower back pain is 80% better.” Best Mattress For Heavy Side Sleepers A Plush Pick That’s Especially Comfortable For Side Sleepers DreamCloud Sleep DreamCloud Premier Hybrid (Queen) Buy From DreamCloud Type: Hybrid | Thickness: 15 inches | Weight limit: 1,000 pounds | Firmness: 6.5 (luxury firm) | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime The softest mattress on this list, the DreamCloud Premier is the best choice for side sleepers. It has two layers of memory foam—one that contours to the pressure of your body and another that provides support while isolating motion. This helps relieve pressure on your shoulders and hips if you prefer sleeping on your side, but also provides adequate support to keep your spine aligned should you shift to your back during the night. On top of the memory foam sits a Eurotop cover that has premium, high-loft memory foam to create a cloud-like weightless effect (maybe that’s what gives the mattress its name, too). The Eurotop is covered with Mongolian cashmere that’s ultra soft, moisture-wicking and cooling. If you tend to sleep on the hotter side, you’ll stay nice and comfy without overheating. And everything is built on a layer of heavy duty encased coils that are arranged in a double row for superior edge-to-edge support. What the reviews say: “This mattress is super comfy!” one reviewer raves. “As a heavy person that's mostly a side sleeper, the mattress is super comfy and supportive, but still lets me move around. It's also comfy for those nights when I sleep or wake up on my stomach. Very happy with my purchase so far (just over 30 days sleeping on it).” Best Firm Mattress For Heavy People Our Most Firm Selection That Still Gets High Marks In Comfort Titan Mattress Titan Firm Hybrid (Queen) Buy From Titan Mattress Type: Hybrid | T hickness: 11 inches | Weight limit: 500 pounds per side (1,000 pounds total) | Firmness: 8 to 10 out of 10 (firm) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years The firmest mattress on this list, the Titan Firm Hybrid balances pressure relief with a solid surface that doesn’t buckle under heavier weight. The mattress combines two layers of foam—a gel memory foam that’s cooling and helps resist body impressions and a TitanFlex foam that provides enhanced contouring to relieve your pressure points. These foam layers sit on top of 961 individually wrapped coils that provide plenty of support, while also isolating motion. The Titan Hybrid is finished off with a high-density foam base that reinforces the coils and prevents them from buckling as they compress. If you’re a hot sleeper and you want extra cooling support, you can add an optional cooling top panel (for an extra $150) that disperses heat on contact and helps keep you comfortable. What the reviews say: “The mattress is super supportive, and has a very comfortable top,” one reviewer shares. “I need a very firm bed to support my joints, and this mattress [fits] the bill beautifully.” Best Value Mattress For Heavy People A Heavy Duty Mattress To Support Up To 1,100 Pounds Big Fig Big Fig Mattress (Queen) Buy From Big Fig Type: Hybrid | Thickness: 13 inches | Weight limit: 550 pounds per side (1,100 pounds total) | Firmness: 7 to 8 out of 10 (firm) | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 20 year limited The Big Fig Mattress isn’t the least expensive option, but it’s a great value. The company only makes one mattress, and it’s specifically designed for heavier sleepers. The 13-inch mattress combines three layers of high-density foam with one layer of gel-infused latex foam that’s perforated to allow air to flow through the mattress, ensuring that its breathable and stays cool. The foam layers sit on top of 1,600 individually wrapped coils—50% more than you’d find in a standard innerspring mattress—that support your weight, no matter your sleeping position. Just note that many reviewers report that it feels quite firm, if that’s what you’re looking for. The quilted mattress topper is treated with ThermoGel cooling technology. According to the company, this does more than just keep the temperature stable, it actively cools you down with gel-infused perforated foam, which fosters airflow. If you start sweating in the middle of the night, the ThermoGel responds to the increase in moisture and creates a cooling sensation. Big Fig also offers a foundation that supports up 2,000 pounds, five times the amount of standard foundations. It also has 18 slats and two center rails that help evenly distribute weight, preventing your mattress from sagging. What the reviews say: “The greatest night sleep my husband and I have gotten in so long,” one reviewer reports after upgrading to the Big Fig. “Love the mattress, very sturdy and firm. So glad that we found this mattress company. In my opinion, the best investment we could’ve made.” Best Mattress For Heavy People With Back Pain A Bed That Helps Relieve Pressure, Aches And Pains Saatva Saatva HD Mattress (Queen) Buy From Saatva Type: Hybrid | Thickness: 15.5 inches | Weight limit: 500 pounds per side (1,000 pounds total) | Firmness: Medium firm | Trial: 180 nights | Warranty: 20 year non-prorated If you’re struggling with back pain caused by (or at least exacerbated by) your current mattress, the Saatva HD mattress is the upgrade you need. The company designed it with two layers of foam that help relieve pressure and improve circulation paired with a layer of five-zone Talalay latex, the cream of the crop when it comes to mattress materials. The latex layer has a patented spinal zone technology that has different layers of density, achieved through “pinpoints” according to a customer service agent. These vary in size—smaller holes create a firmer sensation, while larger ones make the material softer. The zones create varying degrees of firmness and softness to give you maximum pressure-point relief and additional lumbar support. The memory foam and latex layers sit on top of steel coils that are 25% stronger than those of other standard spring mattresses, and the coils are threaded with steel wire to reinforce the mattress and help reduce motion transfer. Unlike other mattresses that come rolled in a box, all Saatva mattresses are handmade to order and delivered right to your bedroom with free white glove delivery. What the reviews say: “‘I’m a bigger guy and have [suffered from an achy] back for almost a year,” says one buyer. “I no longer have an aching back. I’ve never bought a mattress online, but I did my research, and so glad I did. Saatva has made a great and comfortable mattress!” Best Organic Mattress For Heavy People A Medium Soft Eco-Conscious Pick Avocado Green Mattress Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress (Queen) Buy From Avocado Type: Hybrid | Thickness: 15 inches | Weight limit: 350 pounds per side (700 pounds total) | Firmness: Medium soft | Trial: 365 nights (1 year) | Warranty: 25 years Avocado is known for its super comfy eco-friendly mattresses, like this Luxury Plush model, which is made with 17 layers of organic materials such as latex, alpaca, wool and mohair. It has more than 3,000 coils so sleepers of all types feel supported in areas like the neck and back, which is especially important for heavier people. Plus, this mattress contours to your unique body shape to provide optimal support in a more personalized way than other mattresses. Finding a mattress that is sturdy and durable is a key factor to take into consideration for folks with more weight. Avocado mattresses are made with a needle-tufting technique which pulls ribbons through the mattress and binds the layers together for a heavy-duty construction that’s under warranty for 25 years. For more cushioning, you can opt for the plush version of this bed, but it’ll set you back another $1,700 for a
Queen size. What the reviews say: “Slept better the first night [on the Avocado Luxury] than I have in a long time and woke up without back pain,” one reviewer says. “[I] no longer need five pillows to support my body. The mattress is soft but very supportive. In addition, no smell, no off-gases to think about.” MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The Best Mattresses For Back Pain To Reclaim Your Bedtime Comfort By Korin Miller Contributor The Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers With Ample Support And Cushioning By Korin Miller Contributor The Best Memorial Day Bedding Deals This weekend, you can find hundreds of excellent deals on bedding staples like sheet sets, pillows, mattresses and more. Ahead, find a curated list of some of our top picks. Save 15% On A Bestselling Mattress For Stomach Sleepers Nest Bedding Nest Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress Buy From Nest Bedding According to our mattress and sleep editor, the Nest Sparrow is one of the best options on the market for stomach sleepers. And you can trust her: She’s tested it firsthand. Get it for $320 less than its usual asking price this weekend. Save 20% On This Cozy Linen Sheet Set Buffy Buffy Linen Sheet Set (Queen) Buy From Buffy If you’re getting a new mattress, you might as well upgrade your bedding too. This linen set includes a fitted sheet, a flat sheet and two pillowcases—and it’s currently 20% off during Memorial Day weekend. Save 30% On A Pottery Barn Quilt Pottery Barn Pick-Stitch Wheaton Reversible Striped Cotton Quilt Buy From Pottery Barn Lightweight quilts are the perfect summery accessory for any bed, and that’s particularly true when they’re being offered at 30% less than their usual price. That’s the case with this classic-looking blanket, which is on sale right now at Pottery Barn. Save Over $100 On A Lightweight Comforter From The Company Store The Company Store Legends Luxury Royal Down Comforter (Queen) Buy From The Company Store Made of responsibly sourced white goose down, this lightweight comforter is actually incredibly warm and insulating, making it a perfect choice for all-season usage. Inner loops ensure that it won’t shift around inside of your duvet cover, and you can select from four different weight options. Take 20% Off On A Lightweight Down Comforter Brooklinen Brooklinen Lightweight Down Comforter (Full/Queen) Buy From Brooklinen This lightweight, all-season comforter is made of 100% cotton and filled with sustainably sourced down. It’s a whopping 20% off right now in honor of Memorial Day weekend. Why Trust Forbes Vetted With dozens of sleep stories under our belts, we’ve researched the best beds for snoozers of all sizes and sleep types. Two Forbes Vetted staffers, mattress and sleep editor Lindsey Vickers and executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers , also have professional mattress-testing experience. Between the relationships we’ve built with some of today’s top mattress brands and our library of sleep content we’re constantly working to improve, we keep our pulse on the latest and greatest in the industry. To keep this story current and accurate, we revisit it regularly and it was last updated in May 2023. How We Chose The Best Mattresses For Heavy People All of our picks for the best mattresses for heavy people are from reputable brands, several of which we’ve tried personally. We’re well acquainted with most of them, too, as you’ll see models from Helix, DreamCloud, Brooklyn Bedding (makers of Titan), Saatva and Avocado across our series of mattress best lists. While assembling this round-up, we dug deep into the specs of each mattress in order to offer a selection that caters to different sleep preferences, lifestyles and budgets. Further, we made sure each pick is backed by dozens of glowing customer reviews and offers generous sleep trial and warranty periods so you can feel confident about your purchase (or your money back). Above all, each bed had to be constructed to withstand a weight limit of at least 300 pounds per side, with the Big Fig offering the highest weight capacity at 550 pounds per side. What To Consider When Buying Mattresses For Heavy People When searching for a new mattress, you’ll want to take firmness, material and weight limit into consideration. It’s also a good idea to check the retailer’s sleep trial and warranty policies to make sure you’re covered if the mattress isn’t what you expected. Firmness Generally speaking, a medium-firm or firm mattress is the best choice for sleepers who weigh more than 250 pounds. Firmer mattresses will offer ample support, encouraging proper spinal alignment and resisting sagging over time. That said, the best mattress for an individual (or couple) will always come down to their specific preferences and needs. Type Ultimately, this depends on your comfort level. As a general rule, foam mattresses offer a body-molding “sink-in” feel and are superior at minimizing motion transfer. Hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds with a supportive coil base and cushy upper foam layers, but they may feel slightly springier than their all-foam counterparts. Note that all the mattresses on this list are hybrids, which are especially sturdy for sleepers at heavier weights. Weight Limit Single sleeper mattresses typically support one person up to 250 pounds. For two-sleeper sizes, such as queens and kings, this limit is per side for a total of 500 pounds. Mattresses designed for heavier people are constructed with more intentional weight limits. For instance, the total weight limits of the mattresses on this list range from 700 pounds (the Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress mattress) to 1,100 pounds (the Big Fig Mattress ). As a final note, weight limits are relative to mattress size; the bigger the mattress, the more weight it can support. Sleep Trial And Warranty Before purchasing any mattress online, be sure to check the sleep trial period and warranty. Most companies offer generous sleep trials, some up to a full year, to make sure you’ve made the right choice (or you can return it if you haven’t). Lengthy warranties can sweeten the deal—most offer between 10 and 15 years—and hold companies to their quality claims. What Is The Best Mattress For A Heavy Person? Our top pick is the Helix Plus because of its solid overall construction, affordable price and 1,000-pound weight limit. Overall, the key is to find a bed that addresses the main concerns and considerations that people with more weight face: mattress softening and breakdown, mattress sagging, poor or improper support, lack of edge support and heat trapping. That’s why mattresses designed for larger and/or big-and-tall sleepers are generally thicker, made with sturdier materials and feature some type of cooling technology that helps dissipate heat while you snooze. Hybrids are also a great choice, since their coil bases are durable and supportive. Do Mattresses Have A Weight Limit? In a general sense, yes. Most standard mattresses have a weight limit of around 230 to 250 pounds per side (about 500 pounds total), meaning heavier sleepers may notice premature sagging,
BREAKING down and lack of edge support. (If you have questions about weight limits, check the company’s website or contact customer service for specific details.) The mattresses on this list are specifically constructed to uphold weights over 250 pounds per side, with the Big Fig offering one of the highest capacities on the market at 550 pounds per side. Are Spring Or Memory Foam Mattresses Better For Heavy People? Because of their spring-based support systems, innerspring and hybrid mattresses tend to be better for heavier sleepers, as opposed to memory foam. For a balance of structure and cushiony comfort, we suggest looking at hybrid models, which offer the best of both worlds. forbes.com Purple Promo Codes | 10% Off In May 2023 | Forbes More Mattress Stories To Shop Best Mattresses For Back Pain Best Hybrid Mattresses Best Innerspring Mattresses Best Cooling Mattresses Best Mattresses For Couples Best Firm Mattresses For even more savings opportunities, head over to our Memorial Day coupon page to check out the deals from some of our favorite brands . Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . Check out my website . Send me a secure tip . Lindsay Boyers Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions